Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-07-30
SOCIALISM IN FRANCE,


the present time than ut the end of
the Second Empire, in spite of the
bloodletting that took place in ISL
stronger not alone rs to numbers,
but as to unity of doctrines and aims.
Twenty years ago Socialists were di-
vided into innumerablc schools
there were disci pies Of Pierre Lcroux,
Fourier, Louis Blanc, Blanqui,
ProudhOn, etc. now they all place
themselves squarel y on the teachings
Of Karl Marx. This is principally
due to the persistency and energy of
few devoted men.
1t should never be forgotten that
the Commune of Paris was an ahso-
lutely spontaneous movement; that
it came entirely unexpected upon
the leaders. When it fell it was evi-
IDENTIFY the intention of the bour-
ge0isie to tear Socialism mp by the
roots, if it were possible, and there
fore they went to wOrk rs the cIcri-
cal writer Of "The Jews of France
says, with disregard for human
life never before witnessed" They
murdered 35, 900 of the flowers of
Partisan manhood in cold blood, and
deported as many more. Appar-
emily they had succeeded. For five
years thereafter not stir was made
by the French working classes. At
length, in 1876, they again gave
signs of life. BY the liberalty of
the Jew, Cremieux, the French
Trades Unions held Il Congress in
that year in Lyons. 1t was very
tame affair, OF which the only nota-
BILE thing was that they passed a res
olution declaring that they had
nothing and would have nothing to
do with Socialism.
But about this time two men en-
tered France from their exile, who
were to change tins state of affairs
almost in the twinkling Of an eye;
they were Benoit Malon and Jules
Guesde. They Immediately COM
menced an untlring agitation by pen
and word of mouth; Guesde especial
ly, at the Cafe Souhot, OH the south
side of the Seine. At the very next
Congress of the Trades Unions, held
at Paris one year after the first, in
1887, they had so far succeeded that
there were eight votes for a resolu-
ton, declaring that the Specialization
of all the means of production is the
only means of emancipating the
working classes. They continued
their work for eighteen months
longer, and then, at last complete
success crowned their efforts. The
third Congress met at Marseilles in
February, 1879 There were nearly
ten times more delegates in attend
ance here than at the first in Lyons;
not alone from Trades Unions (Which
membership had increased many
fold), but also from very many
"circles": societies mainly consist
ing of young artisans, for instruction
and study which Malon and Guesde
had been instrumental in founding.
This Congress, 10y a majority of
three-fourths, adopted decided So
cialist resolutions, firmly placing
themselves on the platform of Marx,
and electlng committee to do what
was necessary to form Socialist
Labor Party. Since that meinor-
able assembly there has never been
any large meeting of French work
ingmen which has not ended by
passing Socialist resolutions in some
form and pledging themselves to
the cause. The last and most re-
markable was a Congress held in
Lyons IN 1856, under the special
patronage of the Government, and
of the minister of Commerce, Mr..
Lockroy. He had furnished all the
members with railroad tickets and
moreover granted them 5000 francs.
and yet the Congress rejected the
half-measures proposed 10y the min
ister, and declared themselves un-
compromising, revolutionary Social
lists, to the great scandal of the capl-
talist press.
There are at present two Socialist
platforms in France which we will
consider little closer before we say